New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) A Parliamentary delegation from Cyprus, led by Ms Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.
Welcoming Ms Demetriou and her delegation to India, the President said India and Cyprus are close partners bound by democratic values and strong parliamentary traditions. She underlined that India values its partnership with Cyprus, which is based on a shared strategic vision and mutual respect.
The President said that in recent years, political contacts, economic cooperation, defence partnership and cultural ties between India and Cyprus have deepened. India-Cyprus economic ties have immense potential for expansion, she said and appreciated the close cooperation between the two countries in multilateral fora, including the United Nations, European union and the Commonwealth framework.
The President expressed happiness to note that Ms Annita Demetriou is the first woman and youngest Speaker of the House of Representatives of Cyprus. This is an inspiration not only to women in Cyprus, but to women around the world, she said.
The President also apprised her of growing democratic participation by women in India and said that in the Panchayat Raj system, millions of women are becoming part of active public life. A landmark Act has been passed to ensure one-third reservation for women in the lower house of Parliament and state legislatures.
The President expressed hope that during this visit, the delegation will gain knowledge about India’s democracy and parliamentary functioning. She expressed confidence that such a parliamentary exchange will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.
